The Flying Burrito Brothers

clive swindell · From: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK

Can anyone help please.

I am trying to follow the Gram Parsons/Chris Hillman story through and would like to buy a Burrito Brothers CD. Trouble is, there are so many listed. Originally, Pete Kleinow played steel and then Al Perkins and then Kleinow came back.

Can anyone recommend the best CD to buy as regards the steel content?

Robert · From: Chicago

Clive -
There's a 2-CD anthology that came out last year that contains the Burrito's first three albums (all of them - at least with Gram Parsons) plus various and sundry extra songs.
Their first record was their best, but there is quite a bit of steel throughout the second and third. Gram's solo records are great, too. Basically - he hired parts of Elvis Presley's band and founded what became known as Emmylou Harris' "Hot Band".

rob

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

The first three albums are:
1. The Gilded Palace Of Sin (1969)
With Parsons, Hillman, Chris Ethridge, Sneaky Pete and various drummers.
2. Burrito Deluxe (1970)
With Parsons, Hillman, Sneaky Pete, Michael Clarke and Bernie Leadon.
3. The Flying Burrito Brothers (1971)
With Hillman, Sneaky Pete, Michael Clarke, Bernie Leadon and Gram replaced by Rick Roberts.. still a great band at this point.

And that is basically the end of the relationship between Hillman and Parsons, a short relationship by some standards, but quite fruitful.
Their first project together was of course the Byrds album 'Sweetheart Of The Rodeo'from 1968, which is a great album, with Red Rhodes, Jay Dee Maness, John Hartford, Lloyd Green and Clarence White among the sidemen. The CD version has rehearsal tracks and outakes and is wonderful.

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The future ain't what it used to be

marley hay · From: Bailey,Co. USA

"last of the Red Hot Burritos'Is great.Not all country,but some wonderful tunes on it.

Matt Hutchinson · From: London, UK

Hi Clive.
There's a single cd in the UK with Gilded Palace.... and Burrito Deluxe on it. You can get it from Amazon for about £7.99 or most decent shops seem to stock it.

Matt

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

The 2-CD set that was mentoined above is "Hot Burritos 1969-1972". It came out on A&M records last year, and has ALL of the material recorded by the Burritos with Gram (first two albums, most of the third, and choice cuts of the rest of the material). It costs around $20-$25, but it is all digitally remastered, and well worth the price.

Joe

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

"Hot Burritos 1969-1972" is probably your best bet, the third album is really good but only came out in a limited CD run some years ago.
Either way, you can buy the firs two together. There is talk on a 1969 live CD in the works, but that's an upcoming Sierra Records project, so hopefully that will go through.
Gilded Palace is one of my fave albums, I used to hide it from my friends in my punk rock days!

Jeff Schaffer · From: Joplin, Mo.

Gilded Palace is a must. My personal favorite is the third album. It is so well crafted as to be virtually perfect. The creativity and variety of P.K's playing is remarkable. I never tire of the third. It has a permanent place in my 6 cd car changer. Burrito Deluxe is not as refined to my ears but does have some good songs as well. The compilations mentioned above are a good way to go. You might take a look at www.sierra-records.com

Joel Glassman · From: Waltham MA USA

For Gram's music: I'd look for "The International Submarine Band" reissue, (early and a little rough, but good) check out the Byrds box set from a library for "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" era recordings with them, also get an Anthology of the Burritos called "Farther Along" and the 2 lps on a CD collection of "GP" and "Grievous Angel". IMO Those 3 CDs compile most of his best music. --Joel

[This message was edited by Joel Glassman on 05 December 2000 at 03:00 PM.]

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

The International Submarine Band CD is a great one, lots of Merle Haggard, buck Owens, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis (country style Lewis) influence on that set.
Besides, Glen Campbell beefs up the session on rhythm guitar, Earl Ball on piano, Jay Dee Maness on steel guitar and Joe Osborn and future Burrito Chris Ethridge on bass, plus the regular band.

There's a new book on GP coming out, the writer Jason Walker is from Sydney, Australia and is currently in the US finishing it off. It should be good.

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

I must disagree....I though the ISB album was terrible. Take a listen to "Do you Know How It Feels To Be Lonesome" on that album....then listen to how the Burritos did it. No comparison.

The best ISB song, IMO, was "Truck Driving Man, which was only available as a B-side (not on the LP). It is currently available on the GP import "Warm Evenings, Pale Mornings, Bottled Blues".

I believe the original poster's intent was to find the best steel on a GP-related album. For that, I would have to go with the Byrds' "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo". After that, definitely the live set he did with Neil Flanz in 1973, which is now available on CD from Rhino Records.

Joe

Chris Walke · From: St Charles, IL

And the name of the live set with Neil Flanz? I think it came up on a thread a little while back, but I've forgotten.

John Brabant · From: Calais, VT, USA

Clive, that album is entitled, "Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels Live". One of my favorites as well. Was recorded in front of a radio studio audience, with Emmylou on harmony vocals and Neil Flanz on steel. Hot and at the same time, beautiful, steel playing. You can't miss with this album. I also highly recommend as "must haves":

1. The Byrds Box set which contains the original Sweethearts of the Rodeo recordings with the steel of Jay Dee Manness and Lloyd Green right out in front and with Gram dominating on vocals;

2. The Gram Parsons CD containing his two solo albums "GP" and "Greivous Angel". Al Perkins and Buddy Emmons do some great steel stuff and Bernie Leadon and James Burton do some great dobro and steel stuff. Emmylou is on both albums, Linda Ronstadt and Herb Pederson are on the Greivous album doing vocals. Byron Berline on fiddle...;

3. And get that 3 album, 2 cd compilation mentioned already containing the Guilded Palace of Sin, Burrito Deluxe and the 3rd Flying Burrito Bros. album.

You can't miss with any of the stuff above.

Tom Moorman · From: Decatur, GA USA

My favorite, of many, is 'Farther Along, The Best of The Flying Burrito Brothers.' The Guilded Palace of Sin LP has a Sneaky Pete creation called Beat the Heat. Fine stuff.

clive swindell · From: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK

Thanks everyone for your help. I have ordered the Burritos 'Anthology 1969 -1972' and the 'Live 1973' album of Parsons and the Fallen Angels.

I managed to get a Desert Rose Band CD recently featuring Hillman with Jay Dee Manness on steel which is well worth getting.

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

Don't forget the great Bakersfield Bound CD, which is by Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson, bascially a couple of ex-Bluegrassers paying homage to the honky tonk music that turned them onto electric country.
Great sound on the CD, and Jay Dee on steel.
Go to the Forum's Online Catalog...it's a must buy.

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The future ain't what it used to be

Craig Stock · From: Westfield, NJ USA

My favorite on the 'Anthology' set is 'Here Tonight', which has Gene Clark Singing. What a great song. This was an outtake that was only available on the Two-record ablbum 'Close up the Honky Tonks' from 1974.

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Regards, Craig

clive swindell · From: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK

Just one further point.

I can see how the Eagles came along after Parsons/Hillman, then presumably Dire Straits were next but who is carrying the torch for this kind of music today?

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I don't see a connection between Eagles and Dire Straits.

As for who carries the torch today, it's all of Nashville. A debt to the Burritos and the Eagles can be heard in most of what is played on country radio today.

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

I personally think that a lot of the alterna-country groups have taken on the shaky charm of Parsons, which is great, I like that kind of vibe.
Uncle Tupelo had it in a big way, while Gram's first album with the International Submarine Band pretty much invented it.

On the other hand, I honestly feel that Chris Hillman's efforts, especially with the Desert Rose Band, go mainly unnoticed by the Alterna scene, while the country mainstream really didn't pick up on them as much as a hit group should have.
And let's face it, for a little while there they were a serious chart group.
People talk about the effect that Dwight had in the late 1980s, but I always felt that the DRB never really got their due.

Craig Stock · From: Westfield, NJ USA

I saw Chris and Herb Pedersen this summer in NY for the first time. They were great and they still have their voices. I was really impressed with Pedersen's high harmonies. They did a broad spectrum of songs from the Burritos Bros. to their more Bluegrass Stuff of Today.

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Regards, Craig

Joe Alterio · From: Irvington, Indiana

I can't really say who would be carrying the torch right now for the kind of music Gram Parsons was doing in the '70s.....but I must add that anyone who is a Burrito Brothers fan should give Mike Nesmith's music a try. Don't let the fact that he was a Monkee persuade you in the other direction. His brand of country-rock was many steps ahead of Gram in some respoects (and his songwriting WAY better, IMO). Had Nesmith not been in the Monkees, he most likely would have beaten Gram in the race for the first country-rock album ("Sweetheart" came out in 1968....Nesmith's "Magnetic South" came out in 1970).

Try Nesmith's "Magnetic South", "Loose Salute" or "Nevada Fighter". All feature Red Rhodes on steel, as well as Linda Ronstadt's ex-drummer Johnny Ware. Or just pick up one of the best-of's available.

Joe

Craig Stock · From: Westfield, NJ USA

Thanks, Joe,

I just ordered "Magnetic South/Loose Salute" on one CD from Amazon, I am really looking forward to hearing it.
I also think another much over-looked person from that era was Rick Nelson. There are two great compilation CDs on Edsel that cover most of the stuff he did with the 'Stone Canyon Band' Thanks again

P.S. Also ordered Dire Straits' 'On the night'VHS starring P.F.

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Regards, Craig

Jason Odd · From: Stawell, Victoria, Australia

I'd have to say that Nesmith was definately one of the top performers in the country-rock field, Gram Parsons, Dillard & Clark, The Byrds were all hot.
If you want another side of country rock which is much more experimental West coast twang you should try the Nashville West CD with Clarence White, but for singers, I think Nez, Gram and Gene Clark are brilliant.
But then of course there's Michael Martin Murphey, Chris Darrow and Steve Young.

Greg Simmons · From: where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave

This is great timing, I'm just hanging out with my drummer (and music writer) buddy John Cody (formerly of Ray Condo and his Ricochets), showing him the Forum and we came across this thread.

Right on about Nez - note an album -not ‘country’ per se save for a few tasty guitar licks - called "Wichita Train Whistle" that Mike did in 1967, while he was still in the Monkees.

In June 1968 Nez recorded, IMHO, the template for what would become country rock, "Listen to the Band" in Nashville with musicians (including Lloyd Green on steel), Some of whom would go on to form Area Code 615.

Other albums that predate the Burritos were Rick Nelson's "Bright Lights and Country Music" in 1966 and "Country Fever" in 1967, both of course pre Stone Canyon (formed in May 1969)

Also, a highly underrated artist (inexplicably so) and a significant influence on country rock would be John Stewart. "California Bloodlines" by John Stewart was released in 1968

IMHO the whole Gram Parsons mystique is extremely overrated - largely due to the mythology surrounding his extracurricular activities/early demise. He definitely had an enormous talent, but people like Mike Nesmith, Chris Hillman, Rick Nelson and John Stewart were artistically every bit his equal, if not more so - they just didn't happen to die young. What if Parsons were still around, wasted but still alive, recycling the tunes with a bunch of pickup musicians at some dive. Geez, he couldn't even squeeze into the Nudie suit

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net

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